Court Report

Crystal Te’o is scheduled to appear in the High Court today for a change of plea, from not guilty to guilty.

Te’o remains in custody, and will appear before Chief Justice Michael Kruse.

The details of the plea agreement between the government and the defendants are not known at this time, but once the plea hearing goes through, it will be announced in open court today.

Te’o is the former station manager for Dependable Global Express (DGX) Company and she’s charged with two embezzlement counts.

Each embezzlement charge carries a jail-term of up to seven years and/or a fine of $5,000 — or a fine equal to twice the amount gained from the crime up to $20,000 — or both fine and imprisonment. Te’o of Pago Pago remains in police custody with bail set at $25,000 and she’s represented by Assistant Public Defender Michael White.

According to the government’s case, defendant Te’o was employed by the DGX Company from June 2009 to April 6, 2012, and is alleged to have rented a car and opened a gas station account using the company name and designating DGX as the responsible party for payment, however she rented the car for her personal use and did not have DGX permission to open a gas account.

According to the government’s case the total embezzlement amount is subject to revision, as documentation is still being collected by the police.

AUKUSO FA’AMANU CHANGES PLEA

Aukuso Fa’amanu is scheduled to appear in the High Court today for a change of plea, from not guilty to guilty.

He will appear before Chief Justice Michael Kruse.

The details of the plea agreement between the government and the defendant is not known at this time, but once the plea hearing goes through, it will be announced in open court today.

Fa’amanu is the boxer from Samoa accused of having sex with a 16-year old girl, and is charged with statutory rape, deviate sexual assault, sexual abuse in the first degree and endangering the welfare of the child.

He arrived from Samoa to take part in the Moso’oi festival last year. He remains in jail with bail set at $100,000.

NAOMI MAVAEGA DENIES CHARGES AGAINST HER

A woman charged of allegations that she stole a wallet, used the cash in it and then attempted to use the credit card belonging to the victim has denied the charges against her.

Charged with stealing and fraudulent use of a credit device, Mavaega was arraigned in High Court last Friday, where she entered a plea of not guilty to the charges.

The stealing charge is a class C felony which carries a jail term of up to seven years in jail, a fine or up to $5,000, a fine equal to twice the amount of gain up to $20,000 or both fine and jail time, while the fraud charge is a class D felony punishable up to five years in jail, a fine of up to $5,000, a fine equal to the amount of gain up to $20,000, or both fine and imprisonment.

According to the government’s case, on August 26, 2011 the victim was at the hospital Emergency Room for several hours, where she spoke to a lady next to her (the defendant), while the victim’s purse was between them.

The government claims the victim did not find out that her wallet was missing until the defendant went to purchase tires for someone she owed money to, and attempted to use the stolen credit card at ASCO motors.

The government claims the defendant admitted to police she had grabbed the victim’s wallet when she left the hospital, used the $40 cash, and also went to ASCO motors with a man she owed money to, to buy tires in order to pay him back.

Mavaega is represented by Assistant Public Defender Leslie Cardin while prosecuting for the government is Assistant Attorney General Kimberly Hyde.